Improvement in boots and shoes



@with gisten getestv @fitta HORACE B. MARSHALL, OF WALDOBORO,M AINE, ASSIGN TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM W. LUMMUS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 77,063, dated April 2.1, 186,8.

IMPROVEMENT IN` BOOTS vAND SHOES.

TO ALL .PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

Be itknown that I,'HORAcE B..MARSHALL, of Waldoboro, in the 'county of Lincoln, and State of Maine,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoes, Bootees, and *Gaiter-Boots; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following speoiieation, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of f which- A i Figure 1 isa front view, and v Figure2 aside elevationofeJ shoe made in accordance 'with my invention- Such invention having reference to the closing of the instep-opening of the shoe, and being an improved shoe as made with tvvo interclosing series of loops, and a single lacing or cord going through them, the whole being as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, A is the clothgaiter, shoe, or boot, of ordinary form andA material. There projects from each edge of the instep-opening a series of long or tubular loops,.a aa, which are arranged at equal distances apart, and with spaces,.b I; 6, of like width between them. The loops of either ci' such edges are placed directly opposite the spaces between the loops ofthe other edge, in order that when .the two edges are brought into con tact, the loops of one may cnter'and close the spaces between the loops of the other of the saidv edges. A lacing-cord, c, attached to the shoe, and run up through all the loopsvofboth series, serves to close the edges'ot' the opening together', which it-ivill do when drawn tightly.

Generally speaking, these loops areto be formed of pieces or" strong leather B B, suitable doubled, folded, and cut, and applied toithe shoe-opening as a binding or facingis usually -aiiixed to a shoe. Near the upper portions of these pieces, eyelets d cl may be inserted in the'shoe to enable the lacing to be run through them and be fastened by 'means of them. v

This mode of connecting the edges of the instep-opening gives a very neat finish o'r appearance to the shoe when on the foot ofa person, and dispenses with the usual ranges of eyelets let into the shoe.: It requires but one lacing-co-rd. The unlacing of the shoe is quite as easy -as by the eylt-system.

Figure 3 is a cross-section talien through one of the loops,` and the space for its reception.

l Figure 4 is a view of'one of the two series of loops and the lacing as they appear when 'the shoe is open at the instep-opening.

What I claim as my invention and improvements in boots, botees, gaiter-boots, and shoes, and desire to secure by Letters Pra-tent, is- A i I Making'or forming loops a a, of ile'xible material, alternately on each side of the openings for the string or lacing. i

And, in combination with .the loops above claimed, I claima flexible string or' lacing to draw the loops together. v i l I also claim, incombination with the-loops` and lacing, one or more oyelet-h'oles del to facilitate the fastening of the lacing. i

I claim niakingor forming the -loops for the string or lacing alternately on lthe'. edges of the opeuingsof the various kinds oi' boots and shoes, bj1 .perforating or cutting out the binding or edge-facing of said openings.

HORACE B. MARSHALL.

Witnesses E. O..PH1LB RO0K, JOHN. GRAFTON. 

